“Booorrrrinnng,” he drawled, patting his mouth over a fake yawn, but his eyes were twinkling. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“I think I left it in your helicopter during that last flight.”
He laughed. “Ah, come on. It’s Christmas! Finn will be busy with his family, and it sure beats sitting alone in your room all night. What do you say? We can keep each other company, pound some spiked eggnog, watch animated classics. Just two friends keeping the cougars and hounds at bay.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I’ve even heard a rumor that Santa might be stopping by at some point with presents for all the good little boys and girls. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been very, very good this year.”
Beau winked, and Lainey found it impossible not to smile back.
“Fine. Make it hot chocolate with Baileys and Kahlúa, and you’ve got a deal.”
He grinned. “I knew I’d wear you down eventually. No one can resist the Beauchamp charm forever. Uh-oh.” He looked over her shoulder. “Don’t look now, but Mae and Bradley are headed into the dining room. We should both skedaddle before they see us.”
“Good plan.”
Lainey followed Beau, looping around the back of the dining room to make a clean escape.
“Remember,” he told her before they parted ways, “tonight. Don’t leave me hanging, Doc.”
“I won’t.”
LAINEY GOT INVOLVED in a great book and did exactly what she’d told Beau she was going to do. She read it from start to finish, taking only occasional breaks to use the bathroom or grab snacks. She was surprised when she finally set her e-reader down and noticed how dark it had become.
There had been no word from Finn, though she hadn’t really expected any. She hoped his sister was doing well and that everything had gone smoothly. He’d seemed worried when he left earlier that morning, but perhaps it was just a case of first-time uncle jitters.
Lainey made good on her promise to Beau. She arrived at the dining room shortly before dinner and found a decent crowd already there. When she said as much to Mo, the lodge manager told her that with the small number of guests, Mayor Bill had decided to combine it with the annual employee holiday party. That was just fine with Lainey. More people at the party meant less pressure to be socially graceful.
Still, she was relieved when she spotted Beau. He was an outgoing and popular guy in Aurora Falls, and because of that, Lainey got to meet a lot of locals simply by hanging out with him. Even better, Beau did most of the talking, and all she had to do was smile and enjoy the evening. Occasionally, Lainey felt the hairs on the back of her neck rising and would turn around to find Mae shooting a scathing glance in her direction, but Lainey was having a good enough time not to let it bother her.
The dinner itself was outstanding. Mayor Bill had spared no expense, and they feasted on a variety of fresh seafood and a host of delicious accompaniments. Lainey couldn’t help but wonder if some of the fare had come from Finn’s family, since he’d told her they were fisherman by trade.
At some point while the dessert was being served, Mayor Bill mysteriously disappeared, and “Santa” showed up to hand out personalized crystal ornaments and gift bags to everyone in attendance. They took turns hanging their ornaments on the massive fir. Then, Santa turned on the twinkling lights, and everyone took a group photo.
Afterward, the gathering broke into smaller groups. Some went to the bar for dancing and drinking; others went up to the observation deck for hot cocoa and Christmas movie classics. Some locals went home to wrap last-minute gifts or spend time with their families.
“So?” Beau asked much later that night. “You had fun, right?”
“I really did,” Lainey admitted.
“And you wanted to hide out in your room alone all night,” he teased, shaking his head.
“You were right, all right?” She laughed. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“It is. My job here is done. Merry Christmas, Lainey.”
“Merry Christmas, Beau.”
It was just past midnight when Lainey returned to her suite. Officially Christmas—at least, in her time zone. She texted Henry a merry Christmas, and then she changed into her pajamas and slid beneath the sheets.
The pillows still held a hint of Finn’s scent. She snuggled into them, closed her eyes, and fell into a content sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
Finn
Finn was no doctor, and he sure as hell didn’t know much about having kids, but even he knew things weren’t going well. Hildie was getting weaker by the hour, and despite the increase in pain, she didn’t seem any closer to giving birth.
“We’ve got to do something,” Steve said, his face a mask of worry and fear, emerging from the guest room to join Finn and his father, who’d been relegated to the kitchen. His mother was a trained midwife in the shift community, but whatever was happening was beyond her expertise.
“I don’t know what else we can do, son,” his father said quietly. He looked as if he’d aged a decade in the last ten hours.
“Can’t we try calling Doc Wilson again?”
“I did, an hour ago,” his father answered. “Doc Wilson is back in the ICU. He’s not able to help anyone right now. We’re on our own.”
“There must be something we can do,” Steve said, his voice laced with desperation. “Someone who can help.”
Finn stood. “Maybe there is.”
He began stripping and moved toward the door, ignoring the questions his father and brother-in-law shot toward his back. He wasted no time, shifting into his bear and plunging into the icy water.
He emerged a short time later in the ice hut and changed quickly, donning human clothes and running toward Lainey’s suite, determination fueling every step. He wasn’t just going to break the rules; he was going to shatter them.
If he didn’t, Hildie and the babies didn’t have a chance.
Finn jumped up on Lainey’s deck rather than approach from within the lodge. The fewer people he ran into, the better.
“Lainey! It’s Finn. Open up, please.”
Lainey pushed back the curtains, blinking against the light as she slid open the door. “Finn? What are you doing out there? What’s going on?”
“Lainey, I need your help. Please. It’s Hildie. Things aren’t going well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “But what can I do?”
“You’re a doctor.”
“I’m a vet, Finn. I’m not an obstetrician. I’m not qualified to deal with complications of human childbirth.”
She was more qualified than she knew.
“Please, Lainey. I’m begging you.”
For long moments, he was certain she was going to refuse, but then her face softened. “I’m not sure what I can do, but if I can help, I will.”
She threw on some jeans and shoved her feet into her boots, grabbing her coat as she followed Finn out into the cold Christmas morning.
“Isn’t there a doctor in Aurora Falls?” she asked, jogging to keep up with Finn’s long strides.